Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v23350

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 107 lines

23354
 * The safety of those who have God for their refuge. (1-8) Their
 favour with Him. (9-16)

 #1-8 He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find
 all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found
 the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire
 that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine
 grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of
 the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome
 pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst
 of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without
 cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid.
 Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we
 have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's
 promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come
 unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name;
 and encourage others to trust in him also.

23362
 #9-16 Whatever happens, nothing shall hurt the believer; though
 trouble and affliction befall, it shall come, not for his hurt,
 but for good, though for the present it be not joyous but
 grievous. Those who rightly know God, will set their love upon
 him. They by prayer constantly call upon him. His promise is,
 that he will in due time deliver the believer out of trouble,
 and in the mean time be with him in trouble. The Lord will
 manage all his worldly concerns, and preserve his life on earth,
 so long as it shall be good for him. For encouragement in this
 he looks unto Jesus. He shall live long enough; till he has done
 the work he was sent into this world for, and is ready for
 heaven. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some
 work to do, either by him or upon him? A man may die young, yet
 be satisfied with living. But a wicked man is not satisfied even
 with long life. At length the believer's conflict ends; he has
 done for ever with trouble, sin, and temptation.
23370
 * Praise is the business of the sabbath. (1-6) The wicked shall
 perish, but God's people shall be exalted. (7-15)

 #1-6 It is a privilege that we are admitted to praise the Lord,
 and hope to be accepted in the morning, and every night; not
 only on sabbath days, but every day; not only in public, but in
 private, and in our families. Let us give thanks every morning
 for the mercies of the night, and every night for the mercies of
 the day; going out, and coming in, let us bless God. As He makes
 us glad, through the works of his providence for us, and of his
 grace in us, and both through the great work of redemption, let
 us hence be encouraged. As there are many who know not the
 designs of Providence, nor care to know them, those who through
 grace do so, have the more reason to be thankful. And if distant
 views of the great Deliverer so animated believers of old, how
 should we abound in love and praise!

23376
 #7-15 God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in
 displeasure; yet they flourish but for a moment. Let us seek for
 ourselves the salvation and grace of the gospel, that being
 daily anointed by the Holy Spirit, we may behold and share the
 Redeemer's glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit,
 that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive, and
 makes them fruitful. Other trees, when old, leave off bearing,
 but in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the
 strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes
 their best days, and their last work their best work:
 perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every
 sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our
 souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness.
23385
 * The majesty, power, and holiness of Christ's kingdom.

 - The Lord might have displayed only his justice, holiness, and
 awful power, in his dealings with fallen men; but he has been
 pleased to display the riches of his mercy, and the power of his
 renewing grace. In this great work, the Father has given all
 power to his Son, the Lord from heaven, who has made atonement
 for our sins. He not only can pardon, but deliver and protect
 all who trust in him. His word is past, and all the saints may
 rely upon it. Whatever was foretold concerning the kingdom of
 the Messiah, must be fulfilled in due time. All his people ought
 to be very strictly pure. God's church is his house; it is a
 holy house, cleansed from sin, and employed in his service.
 Where there is purity, there shall be peace. Let all carefully
 look if this kingdom is set up in their hearts.
23390
 * The danger and folly of persecutors. (1-11) Comfort and peace
 to the persecuted. (12-23)

 #1-11 We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty
 Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who
 suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to
 Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which
 speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of
 reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have
 spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would
 hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of
 rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand,
 and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God
 would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is
 from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of
 men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's
 hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good
 thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called
 vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts,
 because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words
 to God.